Air-lift-pumping mechanism



Sept, 21, 1926.

w. H. WINEMAN AIR LIFT PUMPING MECHANISM Filed July 12. 1921' Patented Sept. 21,1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT 1,600,499 OFFICE.

WADE H. WINEMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO SULLIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

AIR-LIFT-PUMPIN G MECHANISM.

Application filed July 12,

My invention relates to air lift pumping mechanism and more particularly to automatic controlling means for an airlift pumping system.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved air lift pumping system. Another object of my invention is to provide an improvedair lift pumping system for use in deep wells whereby said system may pump only as necessary to maintain the requisite water supply and may operate automatically to blow off any excessive head which may accumulate during the periods when said system is not in pumping operation. Other objects of my invention will appear in the course of the following speciiication and appended claims.

. In the accompanying drawings 1 have shown for purposes of illustration one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view mainly in elevation, but with parts shown. in section, of the pumping system embodying the illustrative form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail partially in central vertical section and partially in elevation of the float control means for the compressor.

Fig. 3 is a detail showing a portion of the control for the .blow off valve.

, to shut down the system during times when pumping action is not requisite, either by stopping the compressor entirely or by unloading the same. a My invention relates to the latter class of-systems. It is also a well' known fact that, in some wells, where the flow is fairly. rapid, during'periods when pumping is not going on, a head may accumulate to such a height that the foot piece will be submer ed so far that the available air pressure wil not sufliceto discharge air therefrom and so to enable the pump to start. In such cases, it is desirable to provide an auxiliary foot piece at a higher point in the riser pipe whereby the head therein may be blown\ofl to a sufiicient' extent to permit the starting of the pump. In such cases, it is not desirable to continue the .o'peration of the auxiliary air liftpump any longer than is necessary and y p ve 1921. Serial No. 484,201.

is provided with an unloader of the intake type, which unloader' comprisesa casing 7 having a connection to the atmosphere at 8 and a connection to the'compressor intake at 9, there being a valve 10 of well-known form arranged between the connections 8 and 9 and adapted when closed to prevent the passage of air from the passage 8 to the compressor intake and to effect the'drawing of a partial vacuum in the compressor intake whereby the work of compression is discontinned The receiver 6 discharge-s by way of a pipe 11 to a down pipe 12 terminating in a foot piece 13 arranged in the riser 14, which riser discharges by way of a pipe 15 to the tank 16 from whichwater may be drawn for use as desired by a pipe connection 17. For the purpose of regulating the operation of the compressor in such manner as to cause water to be pumped to the tank 16 when the level therein falls below a predetermined desired amount and to discontinue the pumping operation when-the water level has rlsen to a second predetermined desired height, I have provided a valve mechanism generally indicated by 20 con trolling a connection 18 from the receiver 6 to a piston 19 of well known form which controls the position of the intake control valve 10. The mechanism 20 comprises a cylinder 21 having a bore 22 in which a valve 23 reciprocates under the control of means hereinafter described and this valve is operative to connect a pipe 24 with which the cylinder 19 is connected either to an orifice 25 which communicates with the ipe 18 'or with an exhaust orifice 26, 'de en ing upon' the position of the valve 23. T e posi tion of the valve 23 is controlled by a bell crank 27 and the position of the bell crank is in turn controlled by a well known form of trigger mechanism adapted to be operated by a float 28 havinga rod 29 connected there to and stops 3( an 31. on the rod engageable.

--19 of well known construction.

with an arm 32 for throwing the trigger mechanism. ,The reason for the provision of this trigger mechanism-is the desirability of providing for'means for sharply throwing the valve 23 to its opposite positions whereby it will be impossible for the compressorto become partially loaded and so interfere with the operation of the plant. It will be evident that when the water level in the tank 16 reaches the upper limit, the float 28 will rise and bring the stop 31 in contact with the arm 32, thereby throwing over the trigger mechanism in such manner as to raise the valve 23 and supply air to the mechanism 19 and thereby unload the compressor.

When the water level has dropped to the fall at all rapidly and accordingly, if the flow of the well in which the air lift pump previously described is disposed is rapid, the water level might rise to such height that the static head wouldbe in excess'ofthe pressure of the air in the foot piece 13. In

order to permit the blowing off of this surplus head, I have arranged an auxiliary air lift pump as indicated at 34 in the riser pipe 14 and have placed it atsuch a'height that it-is capable of, blowing off allhead in ex; cess of that which may be discharged by the foot piece 13. Air is supplied to this auxiliary air lift pump by way of a pipe 35 connected under the control of mechanism hereinafter described to the pipe 11 as indicated at 35.

For the purpose of controlling the pipe 35 I have provided a valve casing 36 in which a valve 37 is mounted, which va'lve when open is" adapted to permit the supply of pressure from the line 11 to the line 35 and when closed to interrupt this pressure supply. The valve 37 is provided with a stem 38 to which is secured a piston 39 and this pistonis' reciprocable in a cylinder 40. The

cylinder-- 40 is connected by means of a T with aponnection 41 leading to the compressor intake connection 9, and by a connectio'n 42 to the relatively large tank 43 whose purpose will be shortly described. A

' valve mechanism, as indicated in Fig. 4, and

comprising a casing 44 is arranged between the tee and the connection 9 and in this easin is a valve 45 which is adapted to be maintamed in cracked position by a stop 46.

The operation of this mechanism will bereadily apparent, it is thought, from the scribed. When the compressor is unloaded by the closure of the intake valve 10, a vacuumv is produced in the connection 9 and this vacuum operates to cause raising of the valve 45 from its seat and there is produced a partial vacuum in the tank 43.. This vacuum likewise operates to reduce the pressure above the piston 39 whereby atmospheric pressure may raise the piston and so open the valve 37. The pressure accumulated in the receiver will then continueto discharge" until it is no longer capable of discharging against the head existing in the well and thereafter the receiver will remain with a smaller pressure residue therein until the compressor starts up again due to the fall of level in the tank 16. This residual pressure will be sufficient to hold the unloader valve 10 closed. When the valve 10 is opened by themeans previously described, on fall of water level in tank 16, the vacuum in the connection 9 will be broken and a gradual leakage of.air, determined by the adjustment of the stop member 46, will begin to take place to the portions of the piping and to the tank 43 beyond the check valve 44. \Vhen the pressure builds up to a sufficiently high degree, gravity will cause the valve 37 to close and interrupt the discharge of air to the auxiliary air pump. It will be noted, however, that the capacity of the tank 43 may be so adjusted that the closure of the valve 37 willnot occur until after the receiver has been pumpedup to 'full pressure and until a time appreciably sired, and the adjustmentof this member;

will be determined in' proportion to the time which is required to blow off the static head which accumulates during the shut .down periods of the well. 'VVhile I have in this application specifically described one form which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration, and that the invention maybe modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims. What I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an air lift system, air lift mechanism operable against a given head, a sup plemental air lift mechanism for blowin ofl" excessive heads, and vacuum controlle means for controlling said supplemental air lift mechanism.

2. In an air lift system, air lift -mecha construction of the mechanism, so far (1?? nism operable against a given head, a supplemental air lift mechanism for blowing off excessive heads, supply means for said air lift mechanisms simultaneously supplied with pumping fluid on initiating of pumpmg operation, means receiving the discharge from said air lift mechanisms, and means for controlling the supply means for one of said mechanisms while the other mechanism is adapted to remain operative, said means be ing controlled by the liquid head in said discharge receiving means.

3. In an air lift system, air nism operable against a given head, a supplemental air lift mechanism for blowing off excessive heads, supply means for said air lift mechanisms, means receiving the discharge from said air lift mechanisms, and means automatically operative to simultaneously supply with fluid and to sequentially control the supply means for said mechanisms and controlled by the liquid head. in said discharge receiving means.

4. In an air lift system, air lift mechanism operable against a given head, a supplemental air lift mechanism for blowing off excessive heads, a compressor supplying operating fluid separately to said air lift mechanisms, means receiving the discharge from said air lift mechanisms, and means controlling the operation of said compressor controlled by thevliquid'level in said discharge receiving means.

5. In an air lift system, air lift'mechanism operable against a given head. a supplemental air lift mechanism for blowing off excessive heads, a compressor supplying operating fluid to said air lift mechanisms. means receiving the discharge from said air lift mechanisms. and fluid pressure operated means controlling the operation of' said compressor to control one of said mechanisms while the other remains operative and controlled by the liquid level in said discharge receiving means.

6. In an air lift syste1n. air lift mechanism operable against a given head, a normally inoperative supplemental air lift mechanismfor blowing off excessive heads, a compressor-operative to supply said mechanisms with operating fluid, a tank to which said air lift mechanisms discharge, means controlled by the liquid level in said tank for; controlling the loading and unloading of said compressor, and means rendered operative by the unloading of said compressor to cause said supplemental mechanism to operate on reloading of said compressor.

7. In an air lift system, air lift mechanism operable against a given head, a' normally inoperative supplemental air lift mechanism for blowing off excessive heads, a compressor operative to supply said mechanisms with operating fluid, a tank to which said air liftmechanisms discharge, means controlled by the liquid level in said tank lift mecha- 1 for controlling the loading and unloading of said compressors, means rendered operativ'e by the unloading of said compressor to cause said supplemental mechanism to operate on reloading of said compressor, and means for varying the period during which said supplemental mechanism will be operative.

8. In an air lift system, main and auxfrom said compressor to said starting air lift mechanism, and means controlled by the vacuum produced in a chamber of said compressor when the latter is unloaded for controlling said valve.

10. In an air lift system, main and auxiliary or starting air lift mechanisms, a compressor supplying pressure to said mechanisms, an intake unloader for said compres-' sor, a valve controlling the supply of fluid lift mechanism, means operative upon production of a vacuum in a chamber of said compressor to open said valve, and means for preventing instantaneous closure thereof on destruction of said vacuum upon the reloading of said compressor.

11. In an air lift system, main and auxiliary or starting air lift mechanisms, a compressor supplying pressure to said mechanisms, an intake unloader for said compressor, a valve controlling the supply of fluid from said compressor to said starting air lift mechanism, means operative upon production of a vacuum in a chamber of said compressor to open said valve, and means for preventing instantaneous closure thereof "controlling said unloading means, valve means controlling the connection between said receiver and said auxiliary pumping unit, a chamber communicating with the intake of thecompressor beyond sa1d unload- ,from said compressor to said starting air ing means, a piston controlling said valve means and responsive to pressure conditions in said chamber, and a constantly cracked check valve in the line between said chamber and the compressor intake.

13; In an air lift mechanism, a riser pipe, a plurality of air discharge mechanisms arranged at different heights and adapted to cooperate with said riser )ipc, branched fluid supply means for conducting fluid-to said air discharge mechanisms, and means in the branch to the'higher one of the same to automatically interrupt flow therethrough, said means being independent in its operation of conditions in said riser pipe.

14. In an air lift mechanism, amaiu pump, a starting pump, means for respectively conducting fluid to said pumps, means for supplying fluid to both of said conducting means simultaneously to start pumping, and automatic'means for subsequently interrupting supply to said conducting means for the starting pump.

15. In an airlift system, air lift mechanism operable against. a given head, a supplemental air lift mechanism for blowing off excessive heads, and means for controlling said supplemental air lift mechanism including a valve opened by the difference betweenatmospheric pressure and a partial vacuum and closed by gravity;

16. In an air lift system, air lift mechanism operable against a given head, a supplemental air lift mechanism for blowing off excessive heads, and automatic controlling means for the latter wholly independent of the degree of submergence of the former.

117. In an air lift system, an air lift pumping mechanism and fluid pressure supply means therefor including a compressor, a supply line between said compressor and said mechanism, and a valve in said line controlled by the condition of said compressor. 4

18. A ing mechanism actuated entirely by fluid the pressure of which is above atmospheric pressure, a source of actuating pressure fluid therefor, and means for controlling the operation'of said pumping mechanismincluding vacuum controlled mechanism adapted to control the supply 'fluid to said pumping mechanism.

19. In a pumping system, a fluid actuated pump, a compressor for supplying fluid thereto, and vacuum control means associated with said pumping, mechanism to control the operation of said compressor.

20. In a pumping system, fluid actuated pumping mechanism actuated entirely by fluid the pressure of which is above atmospheric pressure, a compressor for supplying fluid thereto, and vacuum control means as.-

' sociated with said system to influence the depumping system comprising pumpfluid supply therefor, and control means for said pumping mechanism including a plurality of valves made sequentially operable by a vacuum. T

23. A system as set forth in claim 22 having means whereby said valves are relatively movable.

- '24. A pumping system comprising fluid actuated pumping mechanism, a source of pressure fluid supply therefor, and means for controlling the supply to said pumping mechanism including a pluralit of valves adapted to besimultaneousl 'su jected to a vacuum and thereafter-to su ject one of the same to a pressure greater than the pressure to which the remainder are subjected.

'25. A pumping system comprising a main and aux1hary pump, a receiver, and means adapted to allow said auxiliary pump to be operative while the receiver pressure is coming up to a pressure adapted to allow operation of said main pump.

26. A pumping system comprising an auxiliary and main pump, asource of pressure fluid supply therefor, and means whereby said source automatically has communication with the auxiliary pump when the pressure of said source is below the pressure adapted for a normal operation of said main pump. I

27. A pumping system comprising an auxiliary and main pump, a sourceof pressure fluid supply therefor, and means whereby said source automatically has communication with the auxiliarypump when the pressure of said source is below the pressure adapted fora normal operation of said main pump, said means being controlled by the level of the liquid aflected by the pumping. opera tion. I

28. A pumping system comprising an aux- -iliary and main pump, a sourcevof pressure fluid supply therefor, means whereby said source automatically has communication with the auxiliary pump when the pressure of said source is below the pressure-adapted for a normal operation of said main pump,

and means whereby said main and auxiliary pump are adapted to be operative by normal pressure at the source.

' 29. A pumping system comprising a main and auxiliarypump, fluid pressure supply means therefor, and means whereby said auxiliary pump is automatically ready for operation when pumping by the main pump has reached the desired limit, but permitting said main pump to remain in communication with said supply.

30. In an air lift system, means ing a varying submergence head, and means having operative relation to the system for pumping a submergence head greater than normal substantially immediately after the pumping of a normal head ceases.

31. A pumping system comprising a main and auxiliary pump, a reservoir into which said pumps discharge, and means controlled by the liquid in said reservoir for controlling operation of said auxiliary pumpindependently of the main pump.

32. In an air lift pumping system, means for pumping avarying submergence head, and means for controlling the pumping of a head greater than normal including a plurality of receivers, a function of one being effective after a function of another has ceased to allow pumping of said greater head.

33. In an air lift pumping system, a main and auxiliary pump, means for controlling said auxiliary pump including a plurality of receivers, the function of one being effective after the function of the other has ceased, and vent means associated with one of said receivers to effect said sequence of operation.

34. An air lift pumping system comprising a main and auxiliary pump, and means whereby when discharge from said main pump has ce'ased said auxiliary pump prior to the time of discharging fluid therefrom is in operative relation to the system.

35. An air lift pumping system comprising a main and auxiliary pump, and means whereby when discharge from said main pump has ceased, said auxiliary pump prior to the time of discharging fluid therefrom isadapted to beoperative independently'of the level of the liquid in the well being pumped. 36. A pumping system comprising main and auxiliary pumps, and means whereby' said auxiliary pump is adapted to be operative when the fluid supply therefor'is under. a pressure equal to or less than the normal pressure of the fluid for actuating the main pump.

37. An air lift s stem comprising pump ing means adapte to discharge a varying submergence head and having continuously open discharge ports and means adapted to be operative to allow pumping of a-head above normal when said pumpmg means is supplied with actuating fluid under a pres sure equal to or less than the normal pressure. 1

38. An air lift system comprising a main and auxiliary pump, a compressor, and

means whereby said compressor is adapted under normal operation to discharge a normal head by said main pump, and means for pumpwhereby said auxiliary pump is adapted to I be operative during an abnormal-operation of said compressor.

39. An a1r lift system comprising a main and auxiliary pump, a compressor, andplying actuating fluid thereto, fluid ope ated means for controlling said compressor, and means influenced by the liquid pumped by said auxiliary pump for affecting said fluid operated means.

41. In an air lift pumping system, means for pumping a normal head and an increased submergence head comprising a compressor,

and means for automatically affecting the operating condition of said compressor to discharge said increased head.

42. In an air lift system, means for pumping a varying submergence head comprising a compressor, and means for automatically affecting the operation of said compressor to vary the amount of air compressed thereby upon the discharge of'said head when above normal submergence.

43. In an air lift pumping system, means for pumping a liquid of varying submergence head comprising a compressor, and means, for automatically affecting the operation of said compressor to vary the discharge pressure through said pumping means during discharge of a head greater than the normal.

44. In an air lift pumping system, pumping'means, and means for allowing pumping of a varying submergence head including means for discharging a head above normal -by increasing the pressure of the fluid crease of the pressure of the fluid pumped f eluding means for discharging a head above normal by automatically increasing the pressure of the fluid pumped over the pressure of the fluid pumped just-previously to increasing said pressure, said latter. means including avalve which is urged toward s sure of said fluid.

47. In an air lift pumping system, means for pumping a Varying submergence head, and means for automatically affecting the operation of said compressor to discharge a submergence head above normal, said means including a valve adapted to be actuated by fluid pressure having communication directly with said pumping means.

48. In an air lift pumping system, pumping mechanism, means for allowing pumping of a varying submergence head including means for discharging a head above normal by automatically increasing the pressure of the fluid pumped by said compressor over the pressure of the fluid pumped just previously to increasing said pressure, said latter means including a valve adapted to be held open by fluid pressure during pumping of the head above normal.

49. In an air lift pumping system,-n1ea'ns for pumping a varying submergence head, and means ,for automatically affecting the operation of said compressor to discharge a head above normal, said means including a valve adapted to be held open 'by fluid pressure during pumping of said head and during normal pumping.

50. In an air lift pumping system, means for pumping a head above normal by automatically increasing the pressure of the fluid pumped by said compressor over the pres sure of the fluid pumped just previously to increasing said pressure, said means including means adapted to control' the How of fluid which discharges the increased head,

51. In an air lift pumping system, means for pumping a varyinv submergence head including means for discharging a head above normal by automatically increasing the pressure of the fluid pumpedv by said compressor overthe pressure of the fluid pumped just previously to increasing said pressure, said latter means including a valve to control flow of pumping fluid during pumping of the increased head and a receiver associated with said valve to control operation of the same.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WADE H. WVINEMAN. 

